Job 22:1-30
Q.1. Does God take pleasure in the righteous? What did Eliphaz accuse Job of doing? From what understanding of suffering did he come to his conclusion? – (Job 22:1-11)
Eliphaz considered that God is distant, and too busy to take notice of mere men – yes, even the righteous (Job 22:1-2). He presented God as being more interested in judgment, than in fostering a relationship. He believed that the way in which God had treated Job, was a given. He asked – 4 “Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, that He enters into judgment against you? 5 “Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end? (Job 22:4-5). He then brought a litany of charges against the suffering saint – He believed that Job must have taken advantage of the defenceless and failed to care for the needy (Job 22:6-9). According to Eliphaz, that could be the only explanation for Job’s suffering (Job 22:10-11).
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Q.2. How did Eliphaz twist Job’s complaint about God’s lack of communication? Did Job express joy at the demise of the wicked? – (Job 22:12-20)
Eliphaz put an unkind twist on Job’s feelings of alienation from God. He had these feelings because no explanation had been forthcoming for his suffering. Job had not charged God with a lack of knowledge about his circumstances. He had questioned why the righteous often suffer and why the wicked seem to prosper. He certainly did not lack appreciation for the blessings of the past or support the lifestyle of the ungodly.
Q.3. What approach to God did Eliphaz recommend? Does God extend His blessing as he suggested? How did Eliphaz misrepresent Job? – (Job 22:21-30)
Eliphaz provided a good piece of advice, when he said – 21 “Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you … 23 “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored…25 Then the Almighty will be your gold and choice silver to you. 26 “For then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God (Job 22:21, 23, 25-26). He recommended seeking God above all else, in order to bring peace. However, then he went too far in suggesting that all will be well, and that deliverance was guaranteed. We all know that the matters of sickness and poverty do not always change to a favourable outcome, just by our turning to God. He suggested that Job must – … remove unrighteousness far from your tent (Job 22:23). However, this misrepresented the reason for Job’s suffering, and only added to his pain.